Group 1 - The Governor of the Bank of England, Bailey, stated that uncertainty in fiscal policy has also impacted the term premium on bonds [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Japanese bond market is experiencing significant turmoil due to political uncertainty and fiscal concerns, with the 10-year bond yield surpassing critical levels, indicating heightened market anxiety [1][3]. Group 1: Bond Yield Movements - On July 15, the 10-year Japanese government bond yield rose by 2.5 basis points to 1.595%, the highest level since 2008 [1]. - The 20-year bond yield increased by 3.5 basis points to 2.64%, while the 30-year yield rose by 4 basis points to 3.195%, both reaching levels not seen since 1999 [1]. - Yields on bonds with maturities of 20 years and above have cumulatively increased by at least 20 basis points this month [1]. Group 2: Political Context and Market Reactions - The rise in yields is occurring just before the Japanese House of Councillors election on July 20, with concerns that the ruling coalition may lose, potentially leading to a significant shift in fiscal policy [3][4]. - Analysts warn that a large-scale sell-off by "bond vigilantes" could lead to market turmoil similar to the UK's "Truss moment" in 2022, which was triggered by aggressive tax cuts [3][4]. - The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partners face declining support in polls, raising fears of increased fiscal deficits and diminished investor confidence in bonds [4][5]. Group 3: Economic Implications - The rise in the 10-year yield is particularly concerning as it directly affects the cost of financing for businesses and households, potentially impacting economic activity [3][4]. - Economists emphasize that while long-term bonds have limited impact on corporate financing, the sustained increase in the 10-year yield warrants close attention, especially given the uncertain fiscal health [3][4]. Group 4: Global Context - The increase in Japanese bond yields is part of a broader global trend, with long-term government bonds worldwide experiencing declines as investors worry about government spending exceeding sustainable levels [6]. - The rise in yields for Japanese bonds of 20 years and longer is seen as part of a global bond sell-off, with concerns about fiscal conditions driving investor behavior [6].

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the steel and commodity industry [5] Core Insights - The report discusses how a civilian prediction indicator has become an "invisible driver" of asset prices, particularly in the steel and commodity sectors. It highlights the strong correlation between the "U.S. recession expectation" and various asset markets, including commodities, bonds, stocks, and foreign exchange [10][11] - The report emphasizes the importance of integrating this prediction indicator with traditional economic data and policy interest rate curves for more comprehensive asset allocation [6][10] Summary by Sections Recent Trends - The steel industry has shown a performance of -1.9% over the last month, -8.7% over the last three months, and 7.6% over the last year, compared to the CSI 300 index which has seen -0.4%, -3.3%, and 9.4% respectively [4] Asset Linkage Commodity Market - The report notes a significant rise in silver prices and a strong synchronization between the gold-silver ratio and the "U.S. recession expectation." It suggests that when recession probabilities decrease, silver, which has more industrial properties, tends to outperform gold [12] - The report also mentions that the crude oil VIX has shown a close correlation with the "U.S. recession expectation," indicating that market predictions of oil price volatility are influenced by recession expectations [12] Bond Market - The report indicates that when the "U.S. recession expectation" rises, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield tends to weaken, although recent trends show some divergence. The 10-2 year yield spread has shown a complex relationship with recession probabilities [15] Stock Market - The report highlights a strong negative correlation between the "U.S. recession expectation" and the S&P 500 index, suggesting that rising recession expectations directly impact corporate profit outlooks [21] - It also notes that the Russell 2000 to S&P 500 ratio has not returned to early-year highs despite a temporary decline in recession expectations, reflecting ongoing concerns about long-term corporate profitability due to tariff policies [21] Foreign Exchange Market - The report states that the U.S. dollar index has mostly moved inversely to the "U.S. recession expectation," although a gap has emerged since May, potentially linked to U.S. fiscal risks and trade policy uncertainties [22] - The report also mentions that the USD/JPY exchange rate tends to weaken when recession expectations rise, indicating a flight to the Japanese yen as a safe-haven asset [22]

Core Viewpoint - The recent surge in gold prices is attributed to a significant drop in the US dollar index and rising market fears due to uncertainties in US fiscal policy [1][2] Group 1: Market Dynamics - Gold prices continued to rise, reaching $3310.61 per ounce with a 0.63% increase [1] - The US dollar index fell to a two-week low of 99.42, reducing the cost of holding gold priced in dollars, which has stimulated buying interest from European and Asian investors [2] - Concerns over the US economy, including a potential recession and the impact of trade tensions, have contributed to the dollar's decline [2] Group 2: Political Factors - The Trump administration is pushing for a comprehensive tax cut plan worth trillions, but there are significant divisions within the Republican Party, with at least five senior members opposing the current version due to fears of increasing the fiscal deficit [2] - The political struggle surrounding the tax cut plan raises concerns about a potential government shutdown if the legislation fails, prompting investors to seek refuge in gold [2] Group 3: Technical Analysis - Gold opened at around $3290 and has broken through previous resistance levels, indicating a bullish trend [3] - Key support levels for gold are noted at $3278-85, with short-term resistance at $3315-21 and significant resistance at $3340-45 [3] - The critical threshold for determining market strength is identified at $3253-60, with a bullish outlook maintained as long as prices stay above this level [3]